Sharks update: McCarthy up from Worcester, Vanndermeer off IR and Wingels on it, McLaren clears waivers

VANCOUVER — About 45 minutes before the early faceoff — just enough time to catch up on a few player moves of the past 24 hours.

Let’s deal with injured reserve first.

Tommy Wingels is on it with whatever upper body problem occurred when he and Joe Pavelski bumped in the vicinity of Ottawa’s Chris Neil in the third period of Thursday night’s loss.

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And Jim Vandermeer is off it after missing 20 games with an injured left hand.

Presuming Jason Demers is a candidate to face the Canucks — and after the Ottawa game, Todd McLellan described Demers as sore, but able to play — that givers the Sharks coach at least one or two decisions to make.

With Wingels injured, the Sharks called up John McCarthy from Worcester. McCarthy is the AHL affiiate’s leading scorer with 11 goals and 27 points in 37 games. No morning skate today so we don’t have a clue as to where McLellan sees him fitting in, but that should be clear shortly (presuming the Sharks don’t go with seven D-men).

Finally, Frazer McLaren cleared waivers and will be playing in Worcester for a while.

****On the Vancouver side, coach and players acknowledging that all three games with Sharks this season have been tight, hard fought and what you’d expect from a strong rival. After a loss in LA and a shootout loss in Anaheim, lots of criticism of Canuck defense without Sami Salo in lineup and they’ve brought up Chris Tanek to try and bolster their blue line.

Look for Roberto Luongo in goal.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

I’m feelin ya, but watch which Sharks should have had the Canuck that got the opportunity to move the puck.

It’s not only the goalie many times.

bsman

Stevo,

Agree in principle, but there have been just too many times lately where Nemo fails to make the big save, or gives up the easy one. He really hasn’t “won” many games for us lately, but has (IMO) lost several…

MLBSF

slappy says:
January 21st, 2012 at 3:09 pm

MLBSF

JT has been very good today. Good forecheck. Always battling for the puck. Marleaus had a couple of scoring chances too.
——

Slappy am I supposed to be impressed he has had a couple of scoring chances?

If a basketball player takes 50 shots and makes two baskets am I supposed to be impressed that he had 50 shots?

Of course not. The Sharks wouldn’t even be in the game right now without Logan which means they are practically a one man team.

And now that Vancouver just scored, it looks like the Sharks will be losing yet again.

Let’s face it they can’t beat any of the teams they would be facing the playoffs.

Lost to Vancouver, lost to Ottawa, lost to Chicago, lost to Minnesota.

What a mess. But I suppose I will be told at least the Sharks gave Vancouver a game.

Sorry but giving the opponent a game doesn’t win Stanley Cups.

SCSharksFan

So Zues scores the game winning goal for VAN… i’m gonna go puke now…

And i thought Cooch was gonna get a hatty for sure there at the end…

Time to decompress now…

Stevo

Sorry but giving the opponent a game doesn’t win Stanley Cups.

My sincere apologies for past disparaging remarks… you really do know one thing about hockey MBSBS.

Alex

Granted, the playoffs are still almost 3 months away and a lot may happen between now and then but the way things stand today there’s just no way we are beating Vancouver in a best of 7 series.

SCSharksFan

I wouldn’t say no way… all of the games have been 1 goal games… a bounce goes the other way and it’s a different story… playoff games are a whole other story too…

Stevo

Alex,

These are very evenly matched clubs. It could go either way. It really can come down to luck or one too many mistakes.

Stevo

SCSF,

Well said.

SCSharksFan

Yeah… and look at today’s game… Zeus scored the game winning goal for VAN… if he didn’t put his stick down, they might be in OT right now…

SCSharksFan

Alex… you listening to Jamie Baker on CSN right now… he just addressed your question… and he says “yes” they could beat VAN in a 7 game series… just sayin’…

Stevo

Mick, please bench Nemo. You won’t regret it. He needs a figurative slap in the face.

Bring him back after the ASG.

Stevo

…and ask him to quit playing too deep in his net.

puckace

MLBSF: “Let’s face it they can’t beat any of the teams they would be facing the playoffs.

Lost to Vancouver, lost to Ottawa, lost to Chicago, lost to Minnesota.”

Why are you concerned with Ottawa? According to you the season isn’t worth following because the Sharks won’t make it to the Stanley Cup. So according to your logic, a loss to Ottawa doesn’t matter because we could only face them in the SC Finals.

Tough loss. Great game by Logan. Another game where Neimi fails to make the big save. Teams know that the key to Nemo is to shoot high on his glove side. Time to sit a game (or two) to work on that flaw in Nemo’s game.

DP: Please ban the loser who continues to waste space in WTC. If he continues run wild in here, I’m skipping the comments section. Waste of everyone’s time. Even MLBSF.

SactoShark

All games by one goal.

How could you possibly conclude Sharks couldn’t win a best of 7?

Let me know you “no way” odds..I’ll take some of the action.

The Sisters were pretty much invisible.

McGinn took a bad penalty but at least he came to play. Couture deserved the hat trick..so close. Winchester and MKcGinn looked strong.

Handzus was weak. White was not strong either as far as showcasing him for a trade

Alex

What do you expect Jamie Baker to say?!!!
I appreciate your remarks, guys but I definitely have my doubts. Over the last 2 years we have played 13 games against the Canucks and won only 3, 2 of which came in shootouts. That makes it 1 regulation win in 13 tries over the last two years. Yikes.
Like I said, a lot can change in 3 months but as of right now it’s unlikely we will beat them in the playoffs.

Martin Brody

My boy Couture is looking great tonight! I think I’ll text him!

Shark_Bit

to the person who keep making epically long nonsensical posts, please, please…kill yourself.

Alex

I admit, “no way” was too strong a word, how about “unlikely”? And the Canucks seem to know how to win all those one goal games better than us.

Martin Brody

My boy Hodgson is looking fantastic tonight! I think I’ll text him!

SactoShark

spamming twitter no = texting

SCSharksFan

Anyone notice the Sucks are slowly clawing their way out of the cellar? All of Boudreau’s F-bombs must be inspiring them?

MLBSF

SCSharksFan says:
January 21st, 2012 at 3:42 pm

Alex… you listening to Jamie Baker on CSN right now… he just addressed your question… and he says “yes” they could beat VAN in a 7 game series… just sayin’…
——-

LOOOOOOOOOL !!

Oh .. well if a Sharks employee says the Sharks can beat VAN in a 7 game series, it must be true.

SCSharksFan are you kidding me?

Listen, nobody hates Vancouver and their annoying fans more than me .. but the fact is they beat us 3 out of 4 times this season.

And they beat us in the WCF last year. Can the Sharks beat them in a 7 game series? Of course not.

We lose practically every time they play Vancouver. What more evidence does anyone need that they’re not as good?

Scum Bum

Despite the loss that was an entertaining game. Stevo is right Nemo needs to sit.

Scum Bum

The Sherriff must be happy his team won. His daughters Henrietta & Danielle didn’t have a good game though.

JB

DP -I agree with Puckace and others; boot the idiot posting these gargantuan empty space posts! Their only reason for being is to disrupt the comment section and cannot be tolerated.

SactoShark

Was a good game. Close, chances both ways, lead changes, some decent hits….but ofc on this blog its all gloom and bitch. Glass never wet, yet alone full.

If they would of sent NItty down earlier (than Wed), I would of been up for him to start the last 2 games.

I think straight up he is a better goalie than Greiss. Good news is the Sharks appear to have a glut of goalies.

Wonder how Staylock did in his start???

MLBSF

SactoShark says:
January 21st, 2012 at 4:36 pm

Was a good game. Close, chances both ways, lead changes, some decent hits….but ofc on this blog its all gloom and bitch. Glass never wet, yet alone full.
———–

Who cares. They lost.

And it shows they aren’t good enough to win the Stanley Cup this year.

But you all continue to just be happy we have a team here. I’m sick of it.

Beer League

MLBSF, if your sick of it, please go somewhere else.

Beer League

MLBSF, you are a child who complains all the time. One that it’s probably even hard for a mother to love.

MLBSF

Beer League I’ll tell you what.

When the Sharks turn into a team that has a chance to win the Stanley Cup or even make it to the Stanley Cup and I will stop complaining.

But not a minute sooner.

I don’t understand why you have more complaints with me than you do with the Sharks who let us down every single year.

slappy

Desjardins did very well on the top line. Nice hands. Good ice smarts. Did everything required of him.

JB

“MLBSF, if your sick of it, please go somewhere else.”

DITTO! I’ve had enough of this gasbag’s routine.

SCSharksFan

Sacto –

Just checked… Stalock didn’t start on Friday night… first start is tonight… read more here…

Alex – “And the Canucks seem to know how to win all those one goal games better than us.”

An important point, for sure. What has happened in the past, even as late as this afternoon, is not necessarily what must occur in this year’s playoffs…fortunately for the Sharks. I dislike the Nux but they are a very good and resourceful team, and give credit to them for finding a way to win the majority of games against the Sharks lately. The Sharks are very good as well but aren’t finding those little moments to tip the scale and win the game and the Nux are. That needs to change by playoff time. Great game for Couture, but I think the Sharks missed seeing a healthy Ryane Clowe on the ice today.

bruce

T Mac has a man-crush on Niemi. Greiss has totally outplayed the flopper just as Nitty did in last year’s playoffs. We need a goalie change BigTime. I’ve been watching hockey since 1960 and the king of the juicy rebound is one sorry excuse for an NHL goalie…disgusting. Can anyone recall ONE game he’s stolen for us? Sit his ass, Todd! You can still moon over him from closer range. And people griped about Nabby?

g-bum-man

MLBSF—there is an oven somewhere that is begging you to stick your head in it. If you do it we all win–including your “boy” Logan. He won’t have to listen to you crap all over his Bluejays. I am sure he is as charmed by your texts as all the other regulars on WTC. Nothing like a killjoy to make everyone enjoy their team…

Go back to screaming at the Giants for not signing enough offensive players. Andrew Baggerly misses you….

g-bum-man

Bruce–I agree that Niemi hasn’t played that well lately, but he has kept the team in a lot of games this season, and has stolen a few. Just not lately. I do agree that watching Greiss play a few games would be good for him. He needs to a bit of rest, and needs to refocus.

ZEKE

Said it before this game and it still stands. I think TMc needs to open up the starting goalie job. Niemi played pretty well, even if he did give up 4 goals. Vancouver played better than we did.

But sometimes you need to find a way to win games where the other guys were better. That is what today felt like to me. We gave ourselves a chance to win — and found a way to lose.

Here’s hoping Clowe comes back very strong — he hasn’t been the force on the ice we need.

There has been a decent amount of ice time for younger players this season. McLaren, Wingels, Demers, McCarthy, Braun, Ferriero, McGinn, Desjardins. But there hasn’t been a lot of chemistry from them. Hopefully the experience that these guys are getting will allow a couple of them to break out and become solid contributors. Because we’ll need it given the ‘less than expected’ contributions from some of the bigger names — Havlat, Handuzs and even Jumbo and Clowe.

MLBSF

G-bum if only you knew what Logan privately thinks about this team.

I would be annoyed if I had to carry the entire team too.

SactoShark

SCSF,

Thanks fr the links

gBum,

The goalie that has impressed me this year is Quick.

He looks good in technique and results!

Beer League

MLBSF, now you just sound creepy

Martin Brody

ZEKE wrote,
There has been a decent amount of ice time for younger players this season. McLaren, Wingels, Demers, McCarthy, Braun, Ferriero, McGinn, Desjardins. But there hasn’t been a lot of chemistry from them. Hopefully the experience that these guys are getting will allow a couple of them to break out and become solid contributors. Because we’ll need it given the ‘less than expected’ contributions from some of the bigger names — Havlat, Handuzs and even Jumbo and Clowe.
_______________________________________________________

ZEKE, You hit the nail right on the head. One of the reasons that the Canucks are winning these one goal games is their young rookies: Hodgeson, Weise, and Tanev. They are all first year players making a significant contribution in their lineup. I’d agree the Sedins weren’t noticeable in today’s game. Thanks to Logan’s leg save on Henrick…but they don’t need to because of Hodgeson’s two goals effort.

slappy

Zeke

Disagree with you about Braun and Desjardins, and to a lesser degree Demers. Braun especially has really developed. The problem about chemistry is that Braun has been thrown a new partner every 3rd game. How can he develop chemistry if he has to make so many adjustments with new partners. Desjardins is the glue for the 4th line. Its been a long time since weve had such a dependable good 4th l;ine with Desjardins Winnie and Murray. Demers had a bumpy start but thats to be expected in a young defenseman. Demers lost his Steady Eddy partner to Boyle so that didnt help Demers development. The rest of the Worcester players you name have underwhelmed. Ferriero started strong but against physical teams size is a problem.

David Pollak

All,

Have asked our techies to ban the space waster. Not sure how quickly it can happen, but in total agreement on the need to do so.

David

Rose

Just watched the game on DVR. Three words.

Too. Many. Giveaways.

It’s really been a problem, it’s driving me nuts. That last goal off an offensive zone giveaway. I wish I had the stats for our turnovers last year versus this year.

Good to see special teams doing better.

Good hockey game, cannot believe Pavs got in a fight, feel so let down after the loss.

Tomorrow’s a new day. Sharks have got to get their turnover/take away ratio working in favor of takeaways.

RedWinger

Watched the game…wow Canucks are a much better team than the Sharks. Or at least they were in this game. If not for all the pipe ringers they could have won by 3 or 4 goals. In a best of 7 ‘nucks would probably win in 5 games.

Just looked at the event summary, the Sharks giveaways were actually in the single digits this game, first game in a while though it’s been below the teens. Still, that last goal off a giveaway….AARGG!!